Recent Blog Posts

Bike Riding Popularity and Increased Danger for Accidents

Barrett Injury Law — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:40:00 GMT

Bike riding is a popular activity and people may get their exercise or enjoyment from it, as well as using it as a source of transportation. A study from the US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that in 2002, health and exercise was the most common reason at 41 percent, with recreation falling behind at 37 percent. There are a number of types of bikes and greater variety also means a greater appeal to a larger expanse of people. Motorcycles, mountain bikes, beach cruisers, scooters and other bikes are all widely used and the specific use can vary depending on the region. While bikes are a great source of activity, higher involvement also can increase the risk of an accident.

Bike riding is typically more common in areas with more fitting weather, such as beach towns where it is warm and easier to get to a location without the use of a car. One study found that areas with less desirable biking weather also had lower amounts of incidents. Biking and accident patterns also changed during the winter months when people were less likely to ride. Poor weather can also be a risk factor for accidents since icy or wet pavement can be easy to slip on. In areas that are more environmentally conscious, residents may be more likely to choose a bike over a vehicle. The Pacific states have the highest rate of biking. Bikes can also have a lot of use in city areas, where the cost of a car might be expensive, there is less distance to travel and traffic encourages people to get rid of their cars.

Bicyclist can share the roads with motor vehicles, meaning they are at the mercy of drivers paying attention. While drivers are obligated to share the road and be on the lookout for bike riders, some of them will fail to do this and injure a rider in the process. Almost 50 percent of riders travel on a paved road, not staying to the shoulder. This can greatly increase the risk of danger, especially if a driver is not paying enough attention to what is ahead of them. Most trips that people take on their bike are within a one mile radius but many accidents can happen close to the home.

Every year there are around 500,000 individuals that require a trip to the emergency department to deal with their injuries and around 700 individuals suffer fatal injuries. Children four and under were more often harmed close to the home since they may not fully have the understanding to be on the lookout for potential dangers. Children age 15 or younger made up around 59 percent of all bike injuries in the emergency room for 2001. Both bicyclist and drivers should be on the lookout for each other and it is important to never feel too safe. If you have suffered a bike accident injury, contact the Orange County injury lawyer from our firm to see if you have a case.

Texting and Driving

Barrett Injury Law — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:12:00 GMT

Distracted driving is one of the leading cases of car accidents in the nation. When a driver diverts their attention from the road, it can lead to substantial injuries. There are many distractions that can present themselves, and one of these is texting. With the ease of sending a message today, it can be all too tempting to keep a phone close by and check received messages or send one. Texting or reading a text can take a person's eyes off of the road for a number of seconds and in this time it might be enough for them to run a red light, miss a stop sign, hit the car in front of them or swerve into the other lane. Texting while driving has become such a problem that many states have chosen to ban it, including California. This means there will be further penalties for those that cause and accident while checking their phones.

In spite of the increased penalties, this is not enough for those that have to deal with an injury or the family members that have lost a loved one. A case may be warranted and the grounds of texting while driving can be enough to demonstrate that the responsible party acted negligently or recklessly by breaking the law and putting the safety of others at risk. With the increase in technology, many cases use of the evidence of the person's phone and it is possible to check when they sent or received a text and if it was around the same time as the accident. The statistics that continually come up regarding these instances are remarkable and they demonstrate the widespread issue that has presented itself. In 2011 alone, around 23 percent of all auto accidents involved the use of a cell phone.

Many drivers believe that they are capable of multitasking and they do not believe that they are causing danger to them or others. Studies have shown that a person checking or sending a text will look away from the road in periods of as little as five seconds at a time. While the time may seem short while driving, a car traveling at about 55 mph could have a football field during this same time. Studies have shown that a lot of people still continue to talk on the phone or text when they drive and around half of drivers have admitted to doing this. Car accidents are one of the most deadly and devastating occurrences in our culture and they claim the lives of thousands every year. Something as simple as putting down the phone case same lives and prevent injuries. Contact an Orange County injury lawyer from our firm if you have been injured in a car accident and you believe that the other party was negligent in some way.

Soft Tissue Damage: Whiplash

Barrett Injury Law — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:44:00 GMT

For those that face an injury, damage to soft tissue can be a silent effect that moves in slowly. The ramifications of it are not always recognized right away so many victims can believe that they walked away unharmed until they begin to feel the pain little by little. A soft tissue injury is the result of the tendons, muscles and ligaments on the body being overused, stretched, torn or strained. The tissue in the area can begin to swell or may become bruised and this may cause internal pain without any evident outward signs. This can be challenging in personal injury cases because the insurance company or the court may want to see the physical sign of damage. These injuries can be very painful and victims may have to undergo a number of treatments in order to reverse the effects.

One common type is known as whiplash. This is most often the result of a vehicle accident or a sports related accident. It may be sustained when a large force is suffered. The head and neck may be sent forcefully from front to back or side to side. This quick reaction can be too much for the soft tissue in the area and it may tear muscles or can event injure nerves or intervertebral joints. Whiplash will frequently lead to painful headaches, dizziness, pain in the lower back or shoulders, a numb feeling in the hand or even trouble sleeping. Since these types of injuries may not always be as evident as others, it can be best to seek the opinion of a medical professional for an additional opinion on the injury that resulted in an accident.

They may use an MRI or CT scan in order to observe what is going on and they can also use their past experience dealing with these cases to recognize if a victim has suffered whiplash. These injuries can remain with a person for a substantial period of time and can make everyday life painful. There is no single treatment for whiplash and some may choose to take pain medication, physical therapy, apply heat or ice to the area and immobilize it. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries can impair victims and if you have suffered this injury from the negligence of another person, call Barrett Injury Law to speak with a member of our team.

Darting and Jaywalking Causes for Accidents Involving Children

Barrett Injury Law — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:40:00 GMT

Car accidents take place every day, involving one or more vehicles and sometimes a vehicle and a pedestrian. These accidents are known to cause significant damage due to the force and speed that comes along with driving a car. Pedestrian accidents can also cause extreme damage when a car strikes an individual that has no form of protection around them. Pedestrians are often hit when entering in to the cross walk by drivers that may fail to pay attention to others around them. They can be hit when jaywalking and this is a large problem, especially in city areas.

Jaywalking is handled differently in each state, and in California it is an illegal action that can be enforced by police officers. Jaywalking accidents occur amongst all age groups, but children are at a particular risk since they have yet to fully understand the dangers that come with entering into the street. In fact, jaywalking and darting into the street are found to be one of the most prevalent reasons that children are hit by a vehicle. Around four children each day are left seriously hurt or fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle, as stated by the California Department of Health Services.

While parents may attempt to teach their children the importance of going to the crosswalk, looking both ways and waiting until traffic is stopped, many younger children are known to dart in to the street without thinking or chasing after a ball that got away from them. One study found that children that were newborns to six years old were most often hit when they darted into the street, while seven year olds to teenagers were more commonly hit when they jaywalked. While jaywalking is a crime, there are precautions that drivers are legally supposed to take and when they fail to do this, they can be less able to avoid a potential accident. Driving comes with many obstacles and those operating a vehicle should always be looking out for any unexpected events. When struck by a driver, there may be grounds for compensation. Call our office for a free consultation with an Orange County injury lawyer.

Whose Fault Was it?

Barrett Injury Law — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:19:00 GMT

A premises liability case is an important matter and with the prevalence and severity of these cases it is critical that a solution is found. When a person owns property, whether it is a personal residence or a business, it is their responsibility to take reasonable precautions that ensure it is safe for those that are invited on. A visitor that came over for dinner at a private home, or a consumer that is visiting the museum during hours of operation may fall and injure themselves seriously enough that they face the need for medical care or are debilitated from their job either temporarily or permanently. These situations may have grounds for the injured party to pursue compensation from the owner of the property. Not all cases though will warrant damages be paid and the court or insurance company will want to establish whose fault the accident was. This will involve looking in to the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Did the property owner fail to offer a safe environment by fixing or putting out warning signs for slippery floors, uneven areas in the ground, crumbling sidewalks, an unstable area or anything else that could be potentially dangerous? They will also want to look at the individual that was injured and if they were reasonable in their actions or did something unsafe that any cautious and aware person would refrain from doing. They will want to find out if the person had been invited on to the property or if they had come there on their own or remained after the time when they were allowed to be there. The accident could be either person's fault and being injured on another person's property does not mean that it will be automatically placed on them. That is why it is highly beneficial to be represented by a quality professional, such as an Orange County injury lawyer from our firm that understands the legal side of a case and can assess the best way to build a case that establishes fault.

Recognizing a Concussion

Barrett Injury Law — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:54:00 GMT

A head can be injured in many ways, such as a bump, jolt or blow, as well as a penetration of the skin and skull. The brain is one of the most important organs in the body when it comes to functioning. Surrounding it is the skull however, this is not always substantial enough. In a brain injury the skull may be penetrated and the actual brain harmed. Harm can come to the brain even if the skull is not penetrated and even the shaking or impact of the head can come with outward symptoms. Concussions are less serious type of brain injury compared to other traumatic brain injuries but this does not mean that they should not be taken seriously. A concussion is a more mild form that may be sustained when a person takes a fall and hits their head or in a car accident when their head moves back and forth in a rapid manner.

They are generally not life threatening injuries but can prove to be fatal so a victim that is believed to have a concussion should be watched for any indications of further damage. A concussion can commonly be observed through foggy thinking, headaches, a change in emotions, changed sleeping patterns, sensitivity to light and sound, a tired feeling, trouble concentrating and a reduced memory. The signs may not always be observed immediately and can show up days and even months later. It is important to take note of certain signs, and these can differ depending on each individual. If certain issues are noted, it can be necessary to seek further medical attention. These include a headache that will not fade, trouble speaking, nausea and trouble with coordination. An injured person should be taken to the emergency room immediately if they are found have seizures, a significant change in behavior, a pupil that is bigger than the other, they become confused and cannot recognize places or people. In children, they can exhibit many of the same signs but may also not eat or will cry continually.

Side effects can be sleep related, emotional, physical and memory related, so all of these categories should be observed by the injured person, and especially by those around them since it is common for a person with a concussion not to recognize it or to even become frustrated when others tell them there is a problem. A medical professional can conduct a few tests that can aid them in determining if the person does have a concussion or not. There are still medical costs that can be associated with a concussion, and additional TBIs can come with and even more significant health care expense. Turn to an Orange County personal injury lawyer from our office if you have suffered a TBI due to the fault of another person.

Factors that Lead to a Boat Accident

Barrett Injury Law — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:07:00 GMT

Boat accidents are a large occurrence throughout the country, and Orange County is no exception to this. Each year there are victims that face significant injuries or even death as the result of a boating accident. The main cause of death amongst victims involves drowning and many of these incidents could have been avoided.

Boating accidents are caused by a number of factors. Sometimes it is inevitable occurrences, such as weather conditions. More often it is a direct result of the boat operator. This may be their lack of experience and they may be uneducated on how to handle certain situations. It may also be their failure to pay attention to the water and surroundings that can be to blame, or their recklessness handling the vessel. Just as drinking and driving is a problem, boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also a serious problem that leaves many boat operators unable to properly carry out their duties in a safe manner. They may be unable to perceive danger, or react fast enough to avoid it.

In an accident, the incident needs to be reported when someone dies, the boat is wrecked, there is an injury that requires medical attention, the damage that ensues reaches $2,000 or more or a passenger on the boat disappears by circumstances that seem due to an injury or fatality. The report will need to be made by the boat operator; however, the owner can make it if the operator is unable to make it. A boating accident can lead to damaging outcomes and in some cases it may be valid for compensation to be pursued. To find out if you have a valid claim, contact Barrett Injury Law and speak with our Orange County injury attorney through a free consultation.

Barrett Injury Goes Social: How to Contact Us!

Barrett Injury Law — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:39:00 GMT

If you want to get ahold of Brett A. Barrett and his legal team, there are a variety of ways to do so. Barrett Injury Law wants to keep up with the times, so they have created a variety of social media outlets that you can take advantage of. Chances are that you have a Facebook profile which you visit daily. Barrett Injury Law has one of these profiles too. You can visit us on Facebook and like our page if you want more information and regular updates about the firm. We feature many news stories on this Facebook page and will link to our Orange County injury blog which is full of important legal information. We also use our Facebook to direct curious clients to pages of interest regarding their injury.

If you aren’t much of a Facebook person, then we are also located on Google+. We have a personal profile that we update with news stories and important information faithfully. You can add Brett Barrett into your circles today to receive these updates on your news feed. The news stories and valuable information posted on this site can go to further your knowledge of injury law and help you to understand the implications of an injury which was caused by a responsible third party. You can also check out our About Brett Barrett page on Google+ to learn a little more about this accomplished attorney. We also have a Twitter account, which is updated regularly. We post news stories, helpful legal information, and comment on trending topics on this feed. If you want to enhance your knowledge of California personal injury, then subscribing to this feed is an excellent idea.

Do you want more information about Brett Barrett? If so then check out his Avvo account. This helpful directory can give you all the information you need about this attorney, including what practice areas he will work in, where his office is located, and what clients think about his services. If you want to speak to an attorney at the firm in person, then you can always call our office at (949) 391-9121. The associates at Barrett Injury Law are willing to stay beside you and help you understand any confusing issues with your case. You can also call our toll-free, 24-hour advice line to get more information. Call (888) 824-6795 for more information. We offer free consultations at our office, so you can call us to set up an appointment to discuss your case with Brett Barrett face-to-face. Our office is located at 38 Corporate Park Irvine, CA 92606. Contact us using any of the means available today for more information or to secure Brett Barrett to work on your case!

What Should Pedestrians Do After an Accident?

Barrett Injury Law — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:49:00 GMT

The first thing that should be addressed in any sort of accident is making sure that all of those involved are safe and unharmed. Injuries should be assessed if there are any to determine the level of damage. It is often best to wait for medical respondents to arrive, as some injuries can be internal and standing up and moving around may only make them worse. After harm is dealt with, then comes the process of taking information and preparing for how to handle the situation. As a pedestrian, the injuries that are sustained may be substantial. Without the protection of a car you can take the force of the vehicle yourself and may be thrown to the pavement. This increases the importance of wanting to ensure you receive the compensation you need and deserve.

The information of the driver should all be taken down. This includes their license number, driver's license, insurance company and policy number, phone number and any other important details. For those that have a camera with them, taking pictures of the car and the area can be useful in case the situation is later questioned. You want to ensure there is as much evidence in your favor as possible. Next is speaking with any witnesses. If someone was around during the time of the incident, they may be able to give their word for what happened. Take down their side of the events and their number. The incident should be reported and if officers don't respond themselves, then you can go and make a report yourself.

Before speaking to the other side's insurance company you will want to speak to an attorney. You do not want to give your side of the story, especially right after the event when you are likely to be in a more heightened state of mind. Taking initiative at the beginning of a case can save you in the long run and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. Speak with a member of our staff through a free consultation to learn about how we may be able to secure you damages for the cost of our injury.

Learn More About Barrett Injury Law

Barrett Injury Law — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 01:02:00 GMT

When you are injured, life is often difficult. You want someone to come alongside you who cares and wants to help. At Barrett Injury Law, we care just as much about your case as you do. If you were injured in an accident that could have been prevented by a third party or is the fault of a negligent person, you shouldn’t leave the case to rest. Instead, you need to hire a hardworking and dedicated personal injury attorney to fight on your behalf for compensation from the party responsible. If you are searching for an Orange County injury lawyer, then you have come to the right place. Barrett Injury Law has over 20 years of legal experience and has been represented by countless victims during the difficult days that precede a serious car accident, medical malpractice injury, or brain injury.

We don’t limit our practice to litigating in car accidents. While we are dedicated to helping those who are victims to such collisions, we also will take on personal injury cases regarding slip & fall injuries, bicycle injuries, pedestrian accidents, dog bites, and more. If you have any case, you can contact us for a free case evaluation. Brett Barrett has handled over 10,000 cases since he created his firm in 1992, so chances are that he will be able to take on your case and pursue a satisfying settlement on your behalf. Brett A. Barrett represents clients all throughout California and takes on cases of all degrees. Whether you have been afflicted with a serious spinal cord injury, or are suffering from a broken bone, he can handle the case. If you are curious what your case is worth, watch this video on Brett Barrett’s YouTube Channel.

In addition to dealing with injury law, Attorney Barrett also deals with wrongful death cases. If your loved one was tragically taken in a freak accident or because of another person’s negligence, then you have the right to sue for wrongful death damages. While these damages won’t ever satisfy the ache that is left by a missing loved one, you can use the money to take a much needed trip or help to cover the costs of the funeral. Mr. Barrett attended Ohio State University for an under-graduate education and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

After this, he attended the Western State University College of Law where he received his J.D. and received Am-Jur awards. Mr. Barrett started his career as a lawyer working for an Orange County personal injury law firm, where he learned about personal injury litigation and gained courtroom experience. He passed to California State Bar on his first try, and eventually chose to begin the Barrett Injury Law Firm on his own. His practice is based out of Newport Beach, California. You can check out his Avvo account or Google+ page for more information about his practice and his successes.

For Brett Barrett, the client always comes first. That is why he has taken the time to create helpful videos which will aid you as a guide throughout your litigation process. Learn more about hiring an expert to work on your case or about the types of injury cases that we will handle. Brett Barrett has served thousands of residents in California, and almost all of them have been extremely satisfied with their experience. One Mission Viejo resident writes that the staff at Brett Barrett Injury Law gave him the guidance and expertise that he needed and provided him with medical referrals while they dealt with his insurance company on his behalf. Often disputes with insurance can get complicated and confusing, so having an educated legal representative on your side can prove invaluable.

Another Cerritos resident writes that she came to Barrett Injury Law after she was viciously attacked by a pit bull. At the time, she was severely discouraged and frustrated. She did not even know who the dog belonged to, and felt there was no hope of obtaining a settlement. Eventually, she contacted our law firm and we were able to hire an investigator who located the origin of the dog. While the owner was in denial, we were able to prove that he was liable for the animal, and our client received a substantial amount of money for her suffering. Another client from Laguna Niguel says that she won her case after she hired Barrett Injury Law to argue against the staff at a gym. She obtained a serious eye injury while attending an exercise class and Brett Barrett was able to prove that she deserved to be compensated for those costs. You can read more of our client testimonials to learn about the many Californians who have been satisfied by Barrett Injury Law.

One of the best aspects of Barrett Injury Law is our payment method. We don’t receive a dime until you have won a settlement on your case. If you don’t receive any money, neither do we. This is called a contingency fee. Essentially, we will talk with you and negotiate a percentage of winnings that we will gain if we are able to obtain a settlement, verdict, or insurance claim in your case. If you don’t receive any money, then we won’t either. This way you can hire us without risking any money, and your payment won’t come out of your personal finances. This payment method gives us a large advantage over other firms that may charge by the hour or ask you to pay large flat rate fees.

Chances are that you won’t get those finances back if your attorney fails to obtain a settlement for you. With us, you can rest assured that you won’t be jilted. This contingency fee payment method also gives us extra motivation to do everything we can to get you the settlement you want. We have recovered over $25 million for our clients in the past, so we are confident that we can help you in some way. If you are interested in hiring us to work on your case, you can call 949-391-9121. If you want advice about a case, then you can call our 24-hour advice line at 888-824-6795. We have six different offices located in Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Corona, San Clemente, Costa Mesa, and Irvine, so we can best serve people all over the state of California. Visit our contact us page to get directions to the office nearest you!

Singer Killed in Motorcycle Crash

Barrett Injury Law — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:35:00 GMT

Motorcycle accidents are responsible for thousands of injuries every year. Some of them prove to be even more detrimental when they lead to a fatality. One metal band singer recently evidenced just how dire these situations can be. ML, the lead singer of Suicide Silence was involved in a motorcycle accident on Halloween. The incident took place around 8:55 p.m. in Orange County. The 28 year old singer was reportedly driving, when he ran into a light pole and was thrown from his bike. He was taken to UCI Medical Center to be treated. Injuries from the accident proved to be too much and the singer was pronounced dead 6:17 the following morning. He leaves behind his wife and their five year old daughter.

There are many reasons that riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous activity. One of the first ones is the lack of protection on them when compared to a car. A driver will typically only have their helmet and maybe thicker clothing as a defense. This is simply not enough when they are thrown from their bike or intersect with a large vehicle. Other drivers are also not as aware or motorcyclist and can fail to see them before making a lane change. A rider will also have nothing to restrain them, causing them to propel further than those with a seat belt would travel.

A rider will often times be thrown from their bike and forced on to the pavement. It is known that many injuries are not just a break but a shattering of the bones. The cost of medical injuries can be extremely high. Families that lose a loved one can also deal with extreme expenses through the initial hospital care, funeral costs and even lost wages if they were the main provider. Contact our office if you or someone you know has sustained physical harm in any type of accident.

Toddler Mauled by Wild Dogs at Zoo

Barrett Injury Law — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:00:00 GMT

The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania zoo is closed today after a toddler tumbled 14-feet from an observation deck into a wild dog habitat and was mauled by the animals. According to KTLA News the little boy’s mother was holding him over the railing at an observation deck when he slipped from her hands and tumbled downward into the cage.

The dogs automatically pounced on the small boy, killing him in moments as they ate the child that they mistook to be their morning snack. The zoo’s president says that the little boy was around 3-years-old. The emergency teams and Pittsburgh police are currently responding to the devastating tragedy and will release more details on the case after further investigation. The police say that there wasn’t anything that could be done after the tragedy.

The boy fell into the African painted dogs exhibit, where approximately 11 wild dogs are on display for the public to enjoy. Seven of the dogs were moved out of their habitat after the attack and veterinarians at the zoo shot darts to try and scare the other dogs away from the body. Visitors who say the horrific attack quickly called 911 and alerted zoo staff about the tragedy. One dog was shot in the process when he turned aggressive on an officer.

The Pittsburgh Zoo says that they will stay closed unto further notice. The African painted dogs are among the most endangered dogs in the world and there are less than 5,000 left in the wild. The zoo has a breeding program to preserve the rare species. If you have been injured or your loved one was killed by an animal, and you can prove that the accident would have been preventable had a third party been able to take precautions, then you may be able to obtain a wrongful death or personal injury settlements. Talk to a personal injury attorney in Orange County today for more information!

Man Impaled on Fence While Intoxicated

Barrett Injury Law — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 23:05:00 GMT

Rod iron fences are often sharp and can be extremely dangerous. Recently, an intoxicated individual had to be rescued by the fire department when he tried to hop one of these fences and evidently was impaled by the bars. The fire department had to come and cut through the bars with special tool in order to get the man free and rush him to the hospital. The young man said that he was trying to climb over the wall of a Hollywood Hills home.

His friend hopped over the wall easily, but this young man was not so lucky. He was impaled in the upper thigh as he tried to throw his leg over the bars. The police say that there was no crime involved and the men simply wanted to get a nice view of the city. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is expected to survive. If you have been injured on a fence, then you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries.

A fence injury like this would land under a premises liability claim. In order to win a settlement, you would want to hire a personal injury lawyer and create a case showing how the property owner neglected the safety or health of those around him or her by poor maintenance of the property. Also, if the homeowner encouraged the boys to jump over the fence, then this would also be grounds for a lawsuit. Contact a lawyer at Barrett Injury Law today if you need more information about premises liability cases like this one. Our firm provides dedicated and hardworking lawyers who want to give you a settlement you can be proud of. Don’t hesitate to call today for a free consultation!

Deadly Fire Erupts in Pasadena

Barrett Injury Law — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:37:00 GMT

A home in Pasadena, California went up in flames recently when one of the tenants allowed the blaze to start in his room. The smoke and flames moved out of the man’s home and into the rest of the residency, charring most of the construction and killing three victims inside. The place was reported at about 2:15 a.m., and the man who had started the fire was nowhere to be found. Eventually, firefighters were able to put the blaze out, but not until a 70-year-old man and a 50-year-old man had been pronounced dead at the scene. The third man who was in the home at the time of the fire was taken to the hospital and is in serious condition.

He is expected to survive, but will have scars all over his body from the burn wounds that he has experienced. 19 people lived in the home until it was torched, and it was being used as a rooming facility where people were paying rent for board. 16 of the people who were not harmed were taken to a Red Cross shelter where housing arrangements were made for them. One resident told KTLA that she lives in the basement and didn’t even hear the fire before the fire department knocked on the door. The man who set the fire had been a trusted and close friend to many in the home, and they were shocked to hear that the blaze was his doing.

The Pasadena Fire Department says that the homeowner may end up in hot water after the accident, because the home was not licensed by the state and was only zoned for a single family use. Allowing so many tenants to live inside is illegal in the state of California. Those who were injured physically or emotionally in the blaze, or those who lost valuable possession in the fire, will have the opportunity to sue the man responsible for damages. If you were harmed in a fire you also have the right to seek finances from the person responsible. Talk to an Orange County injury attorney for more information about litigation.

Effects of Sandy Still Being Felt

Barrett Injury Law — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:41:00 GMT

While hurricane Sandy has been reduced to a Superstorm since first hitting the coast in New Jersey, it is still causing serious damage for those on the east coast. The storm originally had tropical characteristics which have continued to change during its time span. While it may seem like a short period of time that the storm has been around, it has caused great devastation, leading to many serious injuries and even fatalities. Since Sandy has hit the east coast, it has affected multiple states. The death toll continues to rise as some are fatality injured from various causes. One man and his son because trapped in their basement under the debris and were unable to get out in time, a couple was hit by a falling tree while they were taking their down on a walk and two boys, ages two and four were pulled from their mothers arms and swept away.

Flooding has made it impossible for some to travel to get help, medical supplies and other necessities. Around 4.6 million people have been left without power as well; another outcome of Sandy that is being felt in numerous areas. There are many stories of how the lives of loved ones have been lost and they only continue to come in, with the number of deaths caused by Sandy being increased to 80. There are still many people missing, meaning that it is possible for the number to continue to grow. Estimates state that damages from Sandy could cost around 50 billion dollars. Not only is there the physical destruction to the town, many victims will deal with significant medical costs that may be ongoing. While city authorities are taking great effort to aid the residents of the area, it is clear that this destruction will take time to repair.